Greek Antiq. [L., a. Gr. κότταβας.] An amusement of young men in ancient Greece, much in vogue at drinking parties, consisting in throwing a portion of wine into some vessel, so as to strike it in a particular manner.
‘The simplest mode was when each threw the wine left in his cup so as to strike smartly in a metal basin, at the same time invoking his mistress’ name; if the whole fell with a distinct sound into the basin, it was a sign he stood well with her’ (Liddell & Scott).
1823. Macaulay, Misc. Writ., Athen. Revels. I must drink water that you may play the Cottabus with Chian wine.
1853. Hickie, trans. Aristoph. (1887), I. 21. Certain young men, drunk with playing at the cottabus.
Comb. 1856. New-York Daily Tribune, 16 Oct., 4/4. The idle, dissolute, horse-racing, cottabus-playing sons of the ‘first families’ of Athens, living upon the labor of slaves, were alike ignorant of the arts of peace and unfitted for the arts of war.
Hence Cottabist, a player of this game.
1877. Blackie, Wise Men, 138. There is no cottabist in Sicily to match him.
